Sunday, February 3, 2008

Now there's more reason than ever to visit Liverpool, England, whether you're an avid Beatles fan or just the casual tourist. Adjacent to the legendary Cavern Club, the Hard Days Night Hotel opened this weekend. This 4-Star hotel is done up elegantly in a Beatles-themed motif.

The marble-columned building dates back to 1884 and features numerous unique artwork and has 110 guest rooms. If you are a diehard Fab Four fan and have a few extra bucks to burn, reserve a room in either of the exlusive Lennon Suite with it's white baby grand piano, or the McCartney Suite with it's tribute to Sir Paul, including Knight's full suit of armour.

The average room rate is approx. $350 USD per night. The Lennon penthouse suite goes for $1300 per night.

The lobby contains a Yellow Submarine jukebox (...wonder if any Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin on that jukebox).

Just around the corner from the hotel on narrow, bar-lined Mathew Street is the Cavern Club — a reconstruction, on the original site, of the basement dive where The Beatles honed their skills. Down the street is the Cavern Walks shopping mall — or "boutique emporium" — complete with Beatles shop and Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds restaurant. Visitors can take Magical Mystery bus tours to Penny Lane, or visit the Beatles Story museum down on the city docks.

The logo for the new Hard Days Night hotel (above) depicts the unusual opening chord (G7 Suspended) of the Beatles’ 1964 track from which the hotel takes its name.

A member of staff passes pictures of the Beatles on the main staircase

A statue of Beatle John Lennon stands at the facade of the Hard Days Night Hotel

A general view of the Hard Days Night Hotel is seen in Liverpool, northern England, February 1, 2008. The four-star, 110 room Beatle themed hotel opens its doors to the public today and is only a stone's throw away from the site of the famous Cavern Club.

A portrait of Beatles Paul McCartney hangs on the wall in one of the rooms

A Beatles teddy bear sits on a bed in one of the rooms

A portrait of Beatles John Lennon hangs on the wall in the Lennon suite